The annual online Say What You Mean Convention starts tomorrow!
This three-day, free, interactive event is designed to teach homeschool families to communicate with grace. There are audio seminars, chats, games, contests, prizes and more.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Playtime with SketchUp
You can sometimes have an incredible amount of fun for free! Have you tried Google SketchUp? Like most of Google's other products, this is incredibly powerful, intuitive, and yes, fun.
SketchUp is a 3-D modeling program that's very easy to learn-- my 17-year-old discovered it, and was very shortly creating elaborate 3-D buildings, then cities, and all sorts of interesting things. Almost everything is done by clicking and dragging, and there are video tutorials to get you started.
What I like about SketchUp is that it's far more than just a fun drawing exercise. You can create scale models of projects, including houses, kitchens, famous landmarks (Eiffel Tower, anyone?) and most anything else you can visualize in 3-D.
Imagine being able to create a model of your house and try out different ways of adding new space. What would it look like with a second story? Just drag your model to make it taller! How about wings off each end? Simple! A higher roof pitch? Click and drag...
I haven't even scratched the surface of this terrific program, but it's well worth the free download. It'll let your imagination soar!
SketchUp is a 3-D modeling program that's very easy to learn-- my 17-year-old discovered it, and was very shortly creating elaborate 3-D buildings, then cities, and all sorts of interesting things. Almost everything is done by clicking and dragging, and there are video tutorials to get you started.
What I like about SketchUp is that it's far more than just a fun drawing exercise. You can create scale models of projects, including houses, kitchens, famous landmarks (Eiffel Tower, anyone?) and most anything else you can visualize in 3-D.
Imagine being able to create a model of your house and try out different ways of adding new space. What would it look like with a second story? Just drag your model to make it taller! How about wings off each end? Simple! A higher roof pitch? Click and drag...
I haven't even scratched the surface of this terrific program, but it's well worth the free download. It'll let your imagination soar!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Editing- Books and Landscapes
I'm back at my desk after a fairly long break in my weekly routine. Everyone is back to school and to work, so the house is a little quieter than it has been. It's nice to have everyone gathered around for dinner, though. It's the highlight of my day.
During our break, Donald and I both did a bit of editing. He edited a few trees from our landscape, and I finished the print version of Get a Jump Start on College! A Practical Guide for Teens.
It's always hard for me to see a tree cut down, and the loss of five trees seems especially sad. But like unnecessary words in a book, they needed to come out. We hope that increasing the amount of sunlight that can reach our yard will help to dry it out, and encourage more flowers. And having fewer trees close enough to fall on the house in a hurricane seems a prudent idea.
Taking out what isn't working is what editing is all about. It can be a bit painful to cut out words that you've sweated over, but if removing them increases the clarity of the composition, they need to come out. If too many trees are keeping you in the dark, they may be better used as firewood.
Overall, I'm happy with the results of our editing projects. The front of our house seems much brighter than it did before the trees were cut, and I just received my proof galleys from the printer, and they look good. Be sure to watch for the new book on the website!
During our break, Donald and I both did a bit of editing. He edited a few trees from our landscape, and I finished the print version of Get a Jump Start on College! A Practical Guide for Teens.
It's always hard for me to see a tree cut down, and the loss of five trees seems especially sad. But like unnecessary words in a book, they needed to come out. We hope that increasing the amount of sunlight that can reach our yard will help to dry it out, and encourage more flowers. And having fewer trees close enough to fall on the house in a hurricane seems a prudent idea.
Taking out what isn't working is what editing is all about. It can be a bit painful to cut out words that you've sweated over, but if removing them increases the clarity of the composition, they need to come out. If too many trees are keeping you in the dark, they may be better used as firewood.
Overall, I'm happy with the results of our editing projects. The front of our house seems much brighter than it did before the trees were cut, and I just received my proof galleys from the printer, and they look good. Be sure to watch for the new book on the website!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
K12 Virtual School Comes to Virginia
K12, a distance learning school with strong academic credentials, has partnered with the Nelson County School District (and others across the country) to offer online education to homeschoolers.
According to an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (12/10/06), the virtual school is available to students throughout Virginia (contact the Nelson County School system for more information).
As always, there are concerns about getting entangled in the government's web, and about sitting a child in front of the computer for extensive periods of time, but for some families, this may be a solution that works.
Many people are enthusiastic about K12's curriculum, which is based on the Core Knowledge series written by E.D. Hirsch. This means a greater-than-usual emphasis on solid, traditional learning, including the use of good classic literature.
I'll be looking forward to getting some feedback from parents who have participated in the program!
According to an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (12/10/06), the virtual school is available to students throughout Virginia (contact the Nelson County School system for more information).
As always, there are concerns about getting entangled in the government's web, and about sitting a child in front of the computer for extensive periods of time, but for some families, this may be a solution that works.
Many people are enthusiastic about K12's curriculum, which is based on the Core Knowledge series written by E.D. Hirsch. This means a greater-than-usual emphasis on solid, traditional learning, including the use of good classic literature.
I'll be looking forward to getting some feedback from parents who have participated in the program!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Virginia Homeschool Law Updates
There were two articles in the December 5, 2006 Richmond Times-Dispatch that effectively summarized recent changes in the homeschool law and discussed their impact on homeschoolers.
The first article, Helping Homeschoolers (they used the archaic spelling, home-schoolers), appeared on the front page of the Metro Section, and included positive comments from several homeschool parents.
The second article appeared on page 3 of the same section. Titled "Religious Exemptions Rise," the article included statistics on home instruction in each of the Virginia counties, as well as statistics on how many students choose to homeschool under the religious exemption law.
Thanks to staff writer, Holly Prestidge, both articles seem to be well-researched, and present homeschooling in a balanced way. The boxes and sidebars that were included provide extra information in an interesting and usable format.
It would have been nice if links to the websites of Virginia's primary homeschool organization, Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV), as well as the other organizations mentioned, could have been included, but as they can be easily found online or through directory assistance, that is a minor quibble. Overall, this was a positive and informative presentation, and worthy of sharing!
The first article, Helping Homeschoolers (they used the archaic spelling, home-schoolers), appeared on the front page of the Metro Section, and included positive comments from several homeschool parents.
The second article appeared on page 3 of the same section. Titled "Religious Exemptions Rise," the article included statistics on home instruction in each of the Virginia counties, as well as statistics on how many students choose to homeschool under the religious exemption law.
Thanks to staff writer, Holly Prestidge, both articles seem to be well-researched, and present homeschooling in a balanced way. The boxes and sidebars that were included provide extra information in an interesting and usable format.
It would have been nice if links to the websites of Virginia's primary homeschool organization, Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV), as well as the other organizations mentioned, could have been included, but as they can be easily found online or through directory assistance, that is a minor quibble. Overall, this was a positive and informative presentation, and worthy of sharing!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Gratefulness
In honor of Thanksgiving, here is one of my favorite poems for you:
GRATEFULNESS
Thou that hast giv’n so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
See how thy beggar works on thee
By art.
He makes thy gifts occasion more,
And says, If he in this be crossed,
All thou hast giv’n him heretofore
Is lost.
But thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What it would come to at the worst
To save.
Perpetual knockings at thy door,
Tears sullying thy transparent rooms,
Gift upon gift, much would have more,
And comes.
This not withstanding, thou wenst on,
And didst allow us all our noise:
Nay thou hast made a sigh and groan
Thy joys.
Not that thou hast not still above
Much better tunes, than groans can make;
But that these country-airs thy love
Did take.
Wherefore I cry, and cry again;
And in no quiet canst thou be,
Till I a thankful heart obtain
Of thee:
Not thankful, when it pleaseth me;
As if thy blessings had spare days:
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.
George Herbert (1593- 1633)
GRATEFULNESS
Thou that hast giv’n so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
See how thy beggar works on thee
By art.
He makes thy gifts occasion more,
And says, If he in this be crossed,
All thou hast giv’n him heretofore
Is lost.
But thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What it would come to at the worst
To save.
Perpetual knockings at thy door,
Tears sullying thy transparent rooms,
Gift upon gift, much would have more,
And comes.
This not withstanding, thou wenst on,
And didst allow us all our noise:
Nay thou hast made a sigh and groan
Thy joys.
Not that thou hast not still above
Much better tunes, than groans can make;
But that these country-airs thy love
Did take.
Wherefore I cry, and cry again;
And in no quiet canst thou be,
Till I a thankful heart obtain
Of thee:
Not thankful, when it pleaseth me;
As if thy blessings had spare days:
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.
George Herbert (1593- 1633)
Sunday, November 19, 2006
RandomTravel Notes
A few observations from our California trip...
*- When the natives can't seem to answer a simple question about the weather, it's not because they are recalcitrant, it's because California weather is remarkably variable. You may start the morning wearing a long sleeve t-shirt under a hoodie and a leather jacket, then find yourself shedding it all for a short-sleeve t-shirt and flip flops by early afternoon. Whatever you wear, chances are you'll need to make adjustments throughout the day, so plan for it.
*- Everyone should drive up California's Route 1 at least once in their life. If you are a passenger, look out the window and enjoy the ride. Don't try to tell the driver what to do-- he or she can see that the road is flanked on one side by a mountain, and on the other by a precipice. Chances are, he/she doesn't want to fall off the edge any more than you do, so just enjoy the view. I've been driver, and I've been passenger on this beautiful road, and both are fun as long as there are no 'helpers.'
*- Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places in the country. We spent a few days there-- horseback riding in Andrew Molera State Park; hiking in Big Sur State Park; and walking, climbing, and tidepooling on the lovely beaches. It was mostly chilly-- I ended up layering t-shirts with my cashmere sweaters and a hoodie. Only at the top of the Valley View hike did I feel really warm!
*- The best place to watch the sunset is from the outdoor dining area at Nepenthe in Big Sur. The cliff-side location defines 'romantic,' and when the sun slowly sets, lamps are lit around the perimeter of the patio, and heaters provide welcome warmth as the suset's afterglow slowly fades.
*- San Francisco has a remarkably large number of non-productive citizens clogging the downtown streets. It's not entirely pleasant to walk anywhere when you know you'll be acosted by a number of unnerving strangers before you reach your destination. It's not that I'm not a city person-- I grew up east L.A.; I've been to New York, Paris, London, Florence, and other large cities and never felt quite as bothered as I did in San Francisco. It doesn't seem that these people can be good for the tourism industry. I normally love to walk in cities, but I did not enjoy the experience in SF, and was quite happy to leave.
*- Santa Barbara remains a favorite town. We honeymooned there about 25 years ago, and it was so nice to revisit. The weather was spectacular, and we enjoyed a great dinner on State Street. Neither of us could remember the name of the hotel where we stayed back then-- it had blue roofed cottages, and was just off Route 1. Does anyone know if it's still there?
I'll probably record a few more impressions, along with a few photos when we get home. It's been a lovely trip!
*- When the natives can't seem to answer a simple question about the weather, it's not because they are recalcitrant, it's because California weather is remarkably variable. You may start the morning wearing a long sleeve t-shirt under a hoodie and a leather jacket, then find yourself shedding it all for a short-sleeve t-shirt and flip flops by early afternoon. Whatever you wear, chances are you'll need to make adjustments throughout the day, so plan for it.
*- Everyone should drive up California's Route 1 at least once in their life. If you are a passenger, look out the window and enjoy the ride. Don't try to tell the driver what to do-- he or she can see that the road is flanked on one side by a mountain, and on the other by a precipice. Chances are, he/she doesn't want to fall off the edge any more than you do, so just enjoy the view. I've been driver, and I've been passenger on this beautiful road, and both are fun as long as there are no 'helpers.'
*- Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places in the country. We spent a few days there-- horseback riding in Andrew Molera State Park; hiking in Big Sur State Park; and walking, climbing, and tidepooling on the lovely beaches. It was mostly chilly-- I ended up layering t-shirts with my cashmere sweaters and a hoodie. Only at the top of the Valley View hike did I feel really warm!
*- The best place to watch the sunset is from the outdoor dining area at Nepenthe in Big Sur. The cliff-side location defines 'romantic,' and when the sun slowly sets, lamps are lit around the perimeter of the patio, and heaters provide welcome warmth as the suset's afterglow slowly fades.
*- San Francisco has a remarkably large number of non-productive citizens clogging the downtown streets. It's not entirely pleasant to walk anywhere when you know you'll be acosted by a number of unnerving strangers before you reach your destination. It's not that I'm not a city person-- I grew up east L.A.; I've been to New York, Paris, London, Florence, and other large cities and never felt quite as bothered as I did in San Francisco. It doesn't seem that these people can be good for the tourism industry. I normally love to walk in cities, but I did not enjoy the experience in SF, and was quite happy to leave.
*- Santa Barbara remains a favorite town. We honeymooned there about 25 years ago, and it was so nice to revisit. The weather was spectacular, and we enjoyed a great dinner on State Street. Neither of us could remember the name of the hotel where we stayed back then-- it had blue roofed cottages, and was just off Route 1. Does anyone know if it's still there?
I'll probably record a few more impressions, along with a few photos when we get home. It's been a lovely trip!
Monday, November 06, 2006
How to Start an Online Business
I am always watching for good information about creating a profitable home business. There are many things you can do from home, and the internet provides an incredible range of new opportunities for stay-at-home moms, teens who want to start a small business, and families who need to supplement their income.
Stephen Beck, a homeschool dad and online entrepreneur, offers an outstanding course, Secrets to Building Sites That Sell. This course, which made over $48,000 in just 5 days when it was first launched, reveals Steve's secrets to creating an e-commerce website that really works.
In 3 CD-ROMs with over 6 hours of video tutorials, plus a Getting Started
manual, over 8 hours of audio, 120 pages of transcripts, and more, Steve covers:
- How to find profitable niches
- How to create a profitable website
- How to upload your website to the Internet
- What kind of website works best for different kinds of products
- How to choose a domain name and web hosting
- How to get new visitors every day!
- How to set up a shopping cart
- How to make large commissions recommending other people’s products
- How to give your website that professional look
The course nearly sold out when it was first launched a few months ago, but it will soon be available again. Meanwhile, Steve is offering free sample videos of the course if you click here.
You'll be asked to sign up (just first name and e-mail) to know when the course is available, and I highly recommend that you do so. You can learn a lot about online business just by watching the previews! (This is how I learned how to do a lot of things I do in my business-- just by reading free newsletters, listening to teleseminars, and watching free how-to videos. This works only if you have a lot of time to spend. I have been working at it for about 6 years. If I had started learning with an organized course such at Building Sites that Sell, I would have progressed a lot faster!)
Stephen Beck, a homeschool dad and online entrepreneur, offers an outstanding course, Secrets to Building Sites That Sell. This course, which made over $48,000 in just 5 days when it was first launched, reveals Steve's secrets to creating an e-commerce website that really works.
In 3 CD-ROMs with over 6 hours of video tutorials, plus a Getting Started
manual, over 8 hours of audio, 120 pages of transcripts, and more, Steve covers:
- How to find profitable niches
- How to create a profitable website
- How to upload your website to the Internet
- What kind of website works best for different kinds of products
- How to choose a domain name and web hosting
- How to get new visitors every day!
- How to set up a shopping cart
- How to make large commissions recommending other people’s products
- How to give your website that professional look
The course nearly sold out when it was first launched a few months ago, but it will soon be available again. Meanwhile, Steve is offering free sample videos of the course if you click here.
You'll be asked to sign up (just first name and e-mail) to know when the course is available, and I highly recommend that you do so. You can learn a lot about online business just by watching the previews! (This is how I learned how to do a lot of things I do in my business-- just by reading free newsletters, listening to teleseminars, and watching free how-to videos. This works only if you have a lot of time to spend. I have been working at it for about 6 years. If I had started learning with an organized course such at Building Sites that Sell, I would have progressed a lot faster!)
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Le Guin Quote on Writing
Here's a quote to inspire you as you write your novel for NaNoWriMo!
"Writers have to get used to launching something beautiful and watching it crash and burn.
They also have to learn when to let go control, when the work takes off on its own and flies, farther than they ever planned or imagined, to places they didn't know they knew.
All makers must leave room for the acts of the spirit. But they have to work hard and carefully, and wait patiently, to deserve them."
Ursula LeGuin, author of the wonderful Steering the Craft:
: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew, the Earthsea Cycle, and more.
(From Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places, 1989.)
"Writers have to get used to launching something beautiful and watching it crash and burn.
They also have to learn when to let go control, when the work takes off on its own and flies, farther than they ever planned or imagined, to places they didn't know they knew.
All makers must leave room for the acts of the spirit. But they have to work hard and carefully, and wait patiently, to deserve them."
Ursula LeGuin, author of the wonderful Steering the Craft:
: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew, the Earthsea Cycle, and more.(From Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places, 1989.)
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
NaNoWriMo- Go!
Today is the start of National Novel Writing Month. It's one of the most grueling, enjoyable months of the year for writers and writer wannabes.
What is NaNoWriMo (a.k.a. NaNo)? It's the wild and crazy brainchild of a guy named Chris Baty. The goal of NaNo is for everyone who signs up to write an entire novel, defined as 50,000 words, in the month of November.
Sign-up is free and eashttp://beta.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gify at the National Novel Writing Month official website. The site also offers offers encouragement, forums, and WriMo Radio broadcasts.
Why would you want to do NaNo? It will up-end your entire month; the book you write will be rough; and you won't have any spare time to dust the refrigerator or agonize over the the leaves cluttering your front lawn.
Trust me-- you want to do NaNo for all those reasons and more. An up-ended routine can spark all sorts of creativity; a rough draft of a book is something tangible to revise (but a blank page will get you nowhere); and you probably didn't want to dust and rake anyway!
NaNo is a great English assignment for students who enjoy writing. It's a tremendous learning experience, and if it's done right, you can foster a lasting love of writing in your student. Here's what I suggest:
* Assign the writing project only if your student is interested.
* Set daily and weekly word goals so that the project is broken into manageable chunks.
* Feel free to set a lower number of required words for younger students (but you may be surprised at how motivated a ten-year-old can be).
* Do not read your student's work unless invited to do so-- just check the word count each day or week to ensure that the interim goals are being met.
* Consider writing your own NaNo book. It's fun to have someone to share the inevitable moments of frustration or triumph.
* Use the forums on the NaNoWriMo site with caution. Some threads are not suitable for students.
* Try NaNo as a co-op or group project. Misery loves company!
* Get Chris Baty's book, "No Plot, No Problem!">No Plot, No Problem! It offers a ton of helpful tips, plus a supportive message for every week of November.
So, after all that, am I going to do NaNo this year? Unfortunately, I'm not. We have a trip scheduled for two weeks in November, and there's just no way to fit an entire novel around that (though I'm sorely tempted to try!).
What I plan to do is to cheer from the sidelines, with frequent blog entries to help you make the most of this wild experience. I'll post encouraging quotes and tips on writing, plus an occasional suggestion or recipe for NaNo food. For some reason, everyone thinks they must eat in November, so from past NaNo years (and my normal life as a writer), I have a lot of ideas for making good food fast. And that's a good thing to do any month of the year!
Be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed for this blog so that you'll receive encouragement and inspiration for reading and writing, delivered hot and fresh to your desktop. And please post comments about how things are going! Bon voyage-- I wish I could could take the NaNo journey with you!
What is NaNoWriMo (a.k.a. NaNo)? It's the wild and crazy brainchild of a guy named Chris Baty. The goal of NaNo is for everyone who signs up to write an entire novel, defined as 50,000 words, in the month of November.
Sign-up is free and eashttp://beta.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gify at the National Novel Writing Month official website. The site also offers offers encouragement, forums, and WriMo Radio broadcasts.
Why would you want to do NaNo? It will up-end your entire month; the book you write will be rough; and you won't have any spare time to dust the refrigerator or agonize over the the leaves cluttering your front lawn.
Trust me-- you want to do NaNo for all those reasons and more. An up-ended routine can spark all sorts of creativity; a rough draft of a book is something tangible to revise (but a blank page will get you nowhere); and you probably didn't want to dust and rake anyway!
NaNo is a great English assignment for students who enjoy writing. It's a tremendous learning experience, and if it's done right, you can foster a lasting love of writing in your student. Here's what I suggest:
* Assign the writing project only if your student is interested.
* Set daily and weekly word goals so that the project is broken into manageable chunks.
* Feel free to set a lower number of required words for younger students (but you may be surprised at how motivated a ten-year-old can be).
* Do not read your student's work unless invited to do so-- just check the word count each day or week to ensure that the interim goals are being met.
* Consider writing your own NaNo book. It's fun to have someone to share the inevitable moments of frustration or triumph.
* Use the forums on the NaNoWriMo site with caution. Some threads are not suitable for students.
* Try NaNo as a co-op or group project. Misery loves company!
* Get Chris Baty's book, "No Plot, No Problem!
">No Plot, No Problem! It offers a ton of helpful tips, plus a supportive message for every week of November.So, after all that, am I going to do NaNo this year? Unfortunately, I'm not. We have a trip scheduled for two weeks in November, and there's just no way to fit an entire novel around that (though I'm sorely tempted to try!).
What I plan to do is to cheer from the sidelines, with frequent blog entries to help you make the most of this wild experience. I'll post encouraging quotes and tips on writing, plus an occasional suggestion or recipe for NaNo food. For some reason, everyone thinks they must eat in November, so from past NaNo years (and my normal life as a writer), I have a lot of ideas for making good food fast. And that's a good thing to do any month of the year!
Be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed for this blog so that you'll receive encouragement and inspiration for reading and writing, delivered hot and fresh to your desktop. And please post comments about how things are going! Bon voyage-- I wish I could could take the NaNo journey with you!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Review: Dark Enough to See the Stars by Connie Lapallo
Dark Enough to See the Stars Under a Jamestown Sky
by Connie Lapallo
Reviewed by Janice Campbell- www.EverydayEducation.com
Occasionally, I read a book that makes me want to e-mail all my friends and say, "You've got to read this book!" It's not quite as often that I encounter a book that makes me want to buttonhole complete strangers, saying "You have to read this book!"
Connie Lapallo's debut novel is the second kind of book. I was riveted from the first chapter by the fascinating story of Joan Peirce, Lapallo's 13th great grandmother, one of the few women in early Jamestown who survived the Starving Time. Most of the characters, events, and places in the novel are historically accurate, and Lapallo, a writer and home educator, includes extensive information in the end notes to help the reader sort the fiction from the fact.
Lapallo's meticulous research reveals a time in history when the lives of ordinary women were routinely turned upside down by hurricane, plague, starvation, and other circumstances beyond their control. The character of Joan is warmly and realistically portrayed, and her joys and sorrows captured my heart. As I put down the book, I felt as if I'd walked beside her in the wilderness of primitive Jamestown.
The 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown will be celebrated in 2007. Dark Enough to See the Stars would be a wonderful, family-appropriate book to share in honor of the event. If you plan a trip to Jamestown, I highly recommend that you read the book first and look through the photos and resources at Lapallo's website. When you arrive at Jamestown, and walk through the palisade, explore the ship, and sit in the little church, you just might feel a sense of deja vu as you look over the land that became Joan's home.
Read this book!
It's available from the author at www.connielapallo.com (signed, if you request it), or from Amazon.com.
*You're welcome to reprint this review in its entirety as long as you include the links, and leave a comment telling me where it will appear. Articles are a bit like children-- their 'parents' like to know where they go
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Discover It! Vocabulary for SAT Prep
At a homeschool convention this summer, I met Horace G. Danner, Ph.D., Professor of Writing at University of Maryland University College. He is a linguist who has co-written with Roger Noel, Ph.D., two fascinating vocabulary resources.
My boys and I like words. We like to know where they come from, and how they came to be used as they are used in the English language (which, if you haven't noticed, is a very strange language!). Since we have had Discover It! and The English Tree of Roots, we have used them often to look up words that have puzzled us.
Discover It! presents words in 100 clusters. Each word cluster lesson is presented on two pages, beginning with a box containing the entire cluster of words with the common element highlighted. Romance cognates, words with disguised roots, relevant Latin phrases, and more are introduced, and the student is provided with interesting and memorable examples of the words in context, plus Wordextras- unique facts or constructions. There are writing tips and quotes sprinkled throughout, and periodic quizzes (with answers in the appendix). This is a unique and useful resource for vocabulary building!
The English Tree of Roots is a dictionary of English roots.http://beta.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif For example, if you wish to look up the origin of the word "letter," you find that it comes from "liter," and is related to literal, literate, and over 30 variations including uncommon words such as antiliterate, heteroliteral, obliteration, and more. Seeing words in their clusters or family groups is a terrific way to expand vocabulary!
Dr. Danner is also author of an autobiography, Out of the Cotton Fields. This inspiring story tells how reading and education helped him transcend his childhood in an alchoholic Alabama sharecropping family. He donates profits from the sale of this book to an award fund for high school students to help boost exam scores for college entrance.
For more information, visit Occoquan Books.
My boys and I like words. We like to know where they come from, and how they came to be used as they are used in the English language (which, if you haven't noticed, is a very strange language!). Since we have had Discover It! and The English Tree of Roots, we have used them often to look up words that have puzzled us.
Discover It! presents words in 100 clusters. Each word cluster lesson is presented on two pages, beginning with a box containing the entire cluster of words with the common element highlighted. Romance cognates, words with disguised roots, relevant Latin phrases, and more are introduced, and the student is provided with interesting and memorable examples of the words in context, plus Wordextras- unique facts or constructions. There are writing tips and quotes sprinkled throughout, and periodic quizzes (with answers in the appendix). This is a unique and useful resource for vocabulary building!
The English Tree of Roots is a dictionary of English roots.http://beta.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif For example, if you wish to look up the origin of the word "letter," you find that it comes from "liter," and is related to literal, literate, and over 30 variations including uncommon words such as antiliterate, heteroliteral, obliteration, and more. Seeing words in their clusters or family groups is a terrific way to expand vocabulary!
Dr. Danner is also author of an autobiography, Out of the Cotton Fields. This inspiring story tells how reading and education helped him transcend his childhood in an alchoholic Alabama sharecropping family. He donates profits from the sale of this book to an award fund for high school students to help boost exam scores for college entrance. For more information, visit Occoquan Books.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
How to Start a Home Business - Fast!
If you want to start an internet-based home business, and you have three days you can spare to learn from the people who are really doing it, I recommend this seminar.
Even if you can't come, and are not sure you want an internet-based business, I recommend that you or your teen sign up for the free preview calls. You'll learn an amazing amount there, and may be inspired to begin. That said, let me announce....
A Very Special Event!
It's bigger and better than ever... THE BigSeminar #8 Atlanta 2006! I first heard about this seminar last year, but couldn't go. I registered for the free preview training calls anyway, and learned an incredible amount of valuable information. One brief tidbit of advice I heard on one of the free training calls has earned me nearly $500 in the last few months!
Each time I've implemented something I've learned from the Big Seminar calls, my business has increased. For me, that was the evidence I needed in order to know that attending the Big Seminar was something I would be wise to do.
I consider it an investment, because I will be able to come home and share with my boys all the terrific things I've learned. So my investment of time and resources will be shared by my entire family, and, like all I've learned throughout our homeschool years, will have the power to touch our lives for many years to come.
This seminar has changed the lives of thousands of people from all over the world --- now is your chance.
I plan to be among the select group of 400 people who will be personally trained by the world's top marketing minds.... and I hope you will plan to join me. Do hurry, though, as only a limited number of seats are left.
Click on this link: BigSeminar Business Training Event
Plus... Armand Morin is giving away $20,000 in cash and prizes at the seminar. This is amazing. Get your share!
Click HERE to read more about it, and to get on the list for the free preview training calls. Remember, the free calls alone will teach you an incredible amount about starting and growing a business. Even though there is a good bit of talk about the Big Seminar itself (which is actually rather helpful in making your decision), the calls contain a lot of solid information you can apply as soon as you get off the phone. They're worth every minute!
I hope to see you in Atlanta on October 27, 28, and 29!
Janice Campbell
P.S. If you decide to come, please e-mail me, and let me know. That way, I can look forward to meeting you there!
P.P.S. If you have any questions about the Big Seminar, please feel free to e-mail me. I haven't been yet, but I've listened to the training calls for three separate Big Seminars over the past couple of years, and I've heard from many people who attended and were thrilled with what they learned. If I can't answer your questions, I can probably direct you to a person who can!
Even if you can't come, and are not sure you want an internet-based business, I recommend that you or your teen sign up for the free preview calls. You'll learn an amazing amount there, and may be inspired to begin. That said, let me announce....
A Very Special Event!
It's bigger and better than ever... THE BigSeminar #8 Atlanta 2006! I first heard about this seminar last year, but couldn't go. I registered for the free preview training calls anyway, and learned an incredible amount of valuable information. One brief tidbit of advice I heard on one of the free training calls has earned me nearly $500 in the last few months!
Each time I've implemented something I've learned from the Big Seminar calls, my business has increased. For me, that was the evidence I needed in order to know that attending the Big Seminar was something I would be wise to do.
I consider it an investment, because I will be able to come home and share with my boys all the terrific things I've learned. So my investment of time and resources will be shared by my entire family, and, like all I've learned throughout our homeschool years, will have the power to touch our lives for many years to come.
This seminar has changed the lives of thousands of people from all over the world --- now is your chance.
I plan to be among the select group of 400 people who will be personally trained by the world's top marketing minds.... and I hope you will plan to join me. Do hurry, though, as only a limited number of seats are left.
Click on this link: BigSeminar Business Training Event
Plus... Armand Morin is giving away $20,000 in cash and prizes at the seminar. This is amazing. Get your share!
Click HERE to read more about it, and to get on the list for the free preview training calls. Remember, the free calls alone will teach you an incredible amount about starting and growing a business. Even though there is a good bit of talk about the Big Seminar itself (which is actually rather helpful in making your decision), the calls contain a lot of solid information you can apply as soon as you get off the phone. They're worth every minute!
I hope to see you in Atlanta on October 27, 28, and 29!
Janice Campbell
P.S. If you decide to come, please e-mail me, and let me know. That way, I can look forward to meeting you there!
P.P.S. If you have any questions about the Big Seminar, please feel free to e-mail me. I haven't been yet, but I've listened to the training calls for three separate Big Seminars over the past couple of years, and I've heard from many people who attended and were thrilled with what they learned. If I can't answer your questions, I can probably direct you to a person who can!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Ceremony of Innocence
The recent shooting at the Amish school in Nickle Creek is such a sad event. It made me think of William Butler Yeats' poem, "The Second Coming."
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Although the Amish community cares for its own, there are ways to reach out and show compassion, both to the Amish victims and to the family that the shooter left behind.
These two funds are available for the Amish families:
The Nickel Mines Children's Fund
c/o Coatesville Savings Bank
Paradise, PA 17562
The Nickel Mines School Victims Fund
c/o HomeTowne Heritage Bank
P.O. Box 337
Strasburg, PA 17579
The next fund is for the family of the shooter. I'm certain that their distress and need must be immense.
Roberts Family Fund
Coatesville Savings Bank
1082 Georgetown Rd.
Paradise, PA 17562
And finally, the Mennonite Disaster Service and Mennonite Central Committee also provide emotional, physical, and financial support to those in need. You may visit their website at http://www.mcc.org/news/news/2006/2006-10-03_support.html.
I will continue to pray that the families affected by this tragedy be comforted by the peace that passes understanding.
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Although the Amish community cares for its own, there are ways to reach out and show compassion, both to the Amish victims and to the family that the shooter left behind.
These two funds are available for the Amish families:
The Nickel Mines Children's Fund
c/o Coatesville Savings Bank
Paradise, PA 17562
The Nickel Mines School Victims Fund
c/o HomeTowne Heritage Bank
P.O. Box 337
Strasburg, PA 17579
The next fund is for the family of the shooter. I'm certain that their distress and need must be immense.
Roberts Family Fund
Coatesville Savings Bank
1082 Georgetown Rd.
Paradise, PA 17562
And finally, the Mennonite Disaster Service and Mennonite Central Committee also provide emotional, physical, and financial support to those in need. You may visit their website at http://www.mcc.org/news/news/2006/2006-10-03_support.html.
I will continue to pray that the families affected by this tragedy be comforted by the peace that passes understanding.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Why Literature?
"How is this relevant to my life?" students often ask when presented with a literature anthology or a writing assignment. I've been thinking much about literature, in the course of refining my Zeitgeist Literature (www.z-lit.com) series. I'm more deeply than ever convinced of its importance, and yes- relevance- in every area of life.
With a strong foundation in literature, it becomes possible to put life into words. We read of the experiences of others, and they become our own; we are able to place our own experiences in perspective; we can grasp the significance, beauty, or tragedy of an event in a way that is impossible for a person who lacks fundamental literacy. We learn by example how to clearly express feelings, describe experiences, and empathize with others. Literature not only teaches us how to communicate, it also gives us a common basis for understanding one another.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, in his 1970 Nobel lecture, said,
"The sole substitute for an experience which we have not ourselves lived through is art [and] literature... From man to man, as he completes his brief spell on Earth, art transfers the whole weight of an unfamiliar, lifelong experience with all its burdens, its colours, its sap of life; it recreates in the flesh an unknown experience and allows us to possess it as our own."
and...
"...literature conveys irrefutable condensed experience ... from generation to generation. Thus it becomes the living memory of the nation. Thus it preserves and kindles within itself the flame of her spent history, in a form which is safe from deformation and slander. In this way literature, together with language, protects the soul of the nation"
and...
"World literature has it in its power to convey condensed experience from one land to another so that we might cease to be split and dazzled, that the different scales of values might be made to agree, and one nation learn correctly and concisely the true history of another with such strength of recognition and painful awareness as it had itself experienced the same, and thus might it be spared from repeating the same cruel mistakes."
Solzhenitsyn asserts that literature serves an irreplaceable transmitter of experience from person to person, generation to generation, and nation to nation. Is this relevant? It is important?
I believe that it is. The transmission of experience is vitally important for many reasons. Think about it...
Good literature broadens our experiences. Without literature, we live alone in the cage of our own experiences. We are limited by the confines of time and space-- until we open the door to the experiences of others.
-We learn to empathize by experiencing the feelings of others.
-We learn to beware of that which is false, temporal, and worthless.
-We learn about consequences by experiencing the suffering and joy of others.
-We learn to communicate from the best communicators of all time (and deep, clear communication is the foundation for healthy realtionships).
Literature shared becomes a "living memory." It opens an arena of common space, a context within which we can move toward greater understanding. It becomes a vivid shorthand with which we can communicate an idea. To describe someone as a Hamlet, or as a Bertie Wooster, offers a far more vivid picture of their personality and character than the use of simple adjectives, but without the common foundation of literature, the comparison becomes opaque.
When E.D. Hirsch wrote about cultural literacy, he warned that without a shared foundation of common knowledge, literacy would be lost. To be literate, you must not only be able to read, but you must also understand what you read and hear in its proper context. You must understand both text and subtext.
If you hear the name 'Hamlet' and don't think of the complex interplay of revenge, indecision, and circumstance as it relates to the topic of conversation, you have most likely missed the point. Ignorance is not bliss-- to misunderstand leads to inappropriate, often harmful responses. You're like a child who is bored by adult conversation-- not because the conversation is truly boring, but because he simply doesn't understand it.
Literature is one of the cornerstones of literacy. It is experience distilled, and it illuminates experience in a way that nothing else can. Great literature is timeless and relevant, and life without it would be an emaciated existence.
I could write more... but I'm back to work on Zeitgeist Lit. I hope to have beta-versions of each level available very, very soon. It looks as though the publication date for the final editions with spiffy layouts and jazzy covers will be early next year. The beta-versions will get you going, though!
***
What I'm reading today: A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken
I'm just a few chapters in, and-- WOW. Talk about a relationship defined by communication! It's a beautiful, deeply moving memoir, and it includes eighteen letters from C.S. Lewis. It a book to savor, but I'm finding it hard to put down.
With a strong foundation in literature, it becomes possible to put life into words. We read of the experiences of others, and they become our own; we are able to place our own experiences in perspective; we can grasp the significance, beauty, or tragedy of an event in a way that is impossible for a person who lacks fundamental literacy. We learn by example how to clearly express feelings, describe experiences, and empathize with others. Literature not only teaches us how to communicate, it also gives us a common basis for understanding one another.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, in his 1970 Nobel lecture, said,
"The sole substitute for an experience which we have not ourselves lived through is art [and] literature... From man to man, as he completes his brief spell on Earth, art transfers the whole weight of an unfamiliar, lifelong experience with all its burdens, its colours, its sap of life; it recreates in the flesh an unknown experience and allows us to possess it as our own."
and...
"...literature conveys irrefutable condensed experience ... from generation to generation. Thus it becomes the living memory of the nation. Thus it preserves and kindles within itself the flame of her spent history, in a form which is safe from deformation and slander. In this way literature, together with language, protects the soul of the nation"
and...
"World literature has it in its power to convey condensed experience from one land to another so that we might cease to be split and dazzled, that the different scales of values might be made to agree, and one nation learn correctly and concisely the true history of another with such strength of recognition and painful awareness as it had itself experienced the same, and thus might it be spared from repeating the same cruel mistakes."
Solzhenitsyn asserts that literature serves an irreplaceable transmitter of experience from person to person, generation to generation, and nation to nation. Is this relevant? It is important?
I believe that it is. The transmission of experience is vitally important for many reasons. Think about it...
Good literature broadens our experiences. Without literature, we live alone in the cage of our own experiences. We are limited by the confines of time and space-- until we open the door to the experiences of others.
-We learn to empathize by experiencing the feelings of others.
-We learn to beware of that which is false, temporal, and worthless.
-We learn about consequences by experiencing the suffering and joy of others.
-We learn to communicate from the best communicators of all time (and deep, clear communication is the foundation for healthy realtionships).
Literature shared becomes a "living memory." It opens an arena of common space, a context within which we can move toward greater understanding. It becomes a vivid shorthand with which we can communicate an idea. To describe someone as a Hamlet, or as a Bertie Wooster, offers a far more vivid picture of their personality and character than the use of simple adjectives, but without the common foundation of literature, the comparison becomes opaque.
When E.D. Hirsch wrote about cultural literacy, he warned that without a shared foundation of common knowledge, literacy would be lost. To be literate, you must not only be able to read, but you must also understand what you read and hear in its proper context. You must understand both text and subtext.
If you hear the name 'Hamlet' and don't think of the complex interplay of revenge, indecision, and circumstance as it relates to the topic of conversation, you have most likely missed the point. Ignorance is not bliss-- to misunderstand leads to inappropriate, often harmful responses. You're like a child who is bored by adult conversation-- not because the conversation is truly boring, but because he simply doesn't understand it.
Literature is one of the cornerstones of literacy. It is experience distilled, and it illuminates experience in a way that nothing else can. Great literature is timeless and relevant, and life without it would be an emaciated existence.
I could write more... but I'm back to work on Zeitgeist Lit. I hope to have beta-versions of each level available very, very soon. It looks as though the publication date for the final editions with spiffy layouts and jazzy covers will be early next year. The beta-versions will get you going, though!
***
What I'm reading today: A Severe Mercy
by Sheldon VanaukenI'm just a few chapters in, and-- WOW. Talk about a relationship defined by communication! It's a beautiful, deeply moving memoir, and it includes eighteen letters from C.S. Lewis. It a book to savor, but I'm finding it hard to put down.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Another Banner
New Banner
Nothing is uploading to my website, so I decided to try uploading to the blog! If it works, that will be quite strange.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Comcastic? Please!
High speed internet access seems like a wonderful idea. Especially for someone with an internet business that requires a certain amount of time spent online. Will I ever know for sure? Maybe. Maybe not.
I've been trying since mid-June to get Comcast cable internet installed. So much for the 'be online tonight' idea! It's ticking closer to three months since my first call, and I'm still poking along on dial-up.
All the Comcast customer service people are nice. All the installers are nice. Even the contractors that installed the outside cable and cut the phone lines to half the neighborhood were nice. They worked until 10pm trying to fix the phone lines with duct tape, and managed at least to get my grandmother's phone line connected to the neighbor's fax line. So while the rest of us had no phone or internet service for several days, my grandmother was happily gabbing away on the neighbor's line.
So the problem isn't with the individual people. They are really, really nice. But believe me-- it seems that company policy is 'let not your right hand know what your left hand is doing.' For the first six weeks when I was calling about twice a week to get the process moving, they couldn't even find me in the computer half the time!
After spending well over a month and great wads of cash to get the cable up to the house (and the phone lines cut), I call for installation of the interior stuff. Here's how that goes:
A service person arrives at the door a week or so later, "I hear you're having trouble with your cable." Well, no. I'm not having trouble WITH my cable-- I need my cable installed. Okay, so they install it (leaving bright orange cable wrapped around the house outside, and fat black cable travelling through exterior walls, up the sides of door frames, down around baseboards and up the wall to where I actually want the connection). They hook up the modem. They go back and forth to their vans (two of them) and confer. They depart, shaking their heads and promising that someone else will come in a couple of days.
Half a week later, I call them back to inquire. They had no idea what could be the matter, but within a week, another nice service person shows up. Test, test, test.... everything is working. Except something that is not, and it's something he can't fix. He leaves, promising that the department that fixes this sort of thing will be out within a week.
They aren't, of course. So I call this morning, and after spending 24:23 minutes on the phone, am asked to call back later because their computer system is down.
It's later; I called back, and a recorded message states that they are undergoing scheduled maintenance and to please call back after 6 a.m. and they are very sorry for the inconvenience. Bah!
Why do I persist in trying to get Comcast? Because it's the only player in the game here (I don't want satellite). Too bad Verizon couldn't get its act together fast enough to get DSL out here. There would be no question as to who would get my business.
I've been trying since mid-June to get Comcast cable internet installed. So much for the 'be online tonight' idea! It's ticking closer to three months since my first call, and I'm still poking along on dial-up.
All the Comcast customer service people are nice. All the installers are nice. Even the contractors that installed the outside cable and cut the phone lines to half the neighborhood were nice. They worked until 10pm trying to fix the phone lines with duct tape, and managed at least to get my grandmother's phone line connected to the neighbor's fax line. So while the rest of us had no phone or internet service for several days, my grandmother was happily gabbing away on the neighbor's line.
So the problem isn't with the individual people. They are really, really nice. But believe me-- it seems that company policy is 'let not your right hand know what your left hand is doing.' For the first six weeks when I was calling about twice a week to get the process moving, they couldn't even find me in the computer half the time!
After spending well over a month and great wads of cash to get the cable up to the house (and the phone lines cut), I call for installation of the interior stuff. Here's how that goes:
A service person arrives at the door a week or so later, "I hear you're having trouble with your cable." Well, no. I'm not having trouble WITH my cable-- I need my cable installed. Okay, so they install it (leaving bright orange cable wrapped around the house outside, and fat black cable travelling through exterior walls, up the sides of door frames, down around baseboards and up the wall to where I actually want the connection). They hook up the modem. They go back and forth to their vans (two of them) and confer. They depart, shaking their heads and promising that someone else will come in a couple of days.
Half a week later, I call them back to inquire. They had no idea what could be the matter, but within a week, another nice service person shows up. Test, test, test.... everything is working. Except something that is not, and it's something he can't fix. He leaves, promising that the department that fixes this sort of thing will be out within a week.
They aren't, of course. So I call this morning, and after spending 24:23 minutes on the phone, am asked to call back later because their computer system is down.
It's later; I called back, and a recorded message states that they are undergoing scheduled maintenance and to please call back after 6 a.m. and they are very sorry for the inconvenience. Bah!
Why do I persist in trying to get Comcast? Because it's the only player in the game here (I don't want satellite). Too bad Verizon couldn't get its act together fast enough to get DSL out here. There would be no question as to who would get my business.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Prepare for College!
Today I have a link to a helpful article from SUNY Oswego's Honors Program. It's a compilation of advice from college freshmen to high school students-- sort of a 'what I wish I had known/done' type of article. I think you'll find it quite interesting!
Click the title of this post to read the article.
If you're going to be at the Virginia Homeschoolers Conference at the Science Museum of Virginia this weekend, stop by my table and say 'hi!' I'll be speaking on creating transcripts.
I'm making progress-- not as quickly as I would like, but progress, nonetheless-- on Zeitgeist Literature: Self-Directed, College-Preparatory, Literature-Based English for Homeschoolers. The first e-books should be available shortly!
Click the title of this post to read the article.
If you're going to be at the Virginia Homeschoolers Conference at the Science Museum of Virginia this weekend, stop by my table and say 'hi!' I'll be speaking on creating transcripts.
I'm making progress-- not as quickly as I would like, but progress, nonetheless-- on Zeitgeist Literature: Self-Directed, College-Preparatory, Literature-Based English for Homeschoolers. The first e-books should be available shortly!
Monday, August 07, 2006
Notice of Intent to Homeschool
If you homeschool in Virginia, the deadline for filing your Notice of Intent to Homeschool is August 15. That is, of course, unless you are schooling under the religious exemption, which does not require the filing of a form.
The new wrinkle in the Notice is the change in Option 1. It used to permit homeschooling if you had a bachelor's degree, but the law has been amended. You may now homeschool with just a high school diploma. And no, that doesn't mean a piece of paper. That simply means you may homeschool if you have finished high school.
If you have always used Option 4 in which you attach a copy of your "program of study for the coming year," or a statement of why you feel you're "able to provide an adequate education for your child," you no longer have to do that. Just choose Option 1, and you'll save hours of wasted time!
To get an updated, printable copy of the Notice, you may go to HEAV website.
It's almost time for back-to-school! Are you ready?
The new wrinkle in the Notice is the change in Option 1. It used to permit homeschooling if you had a bachelor's degree, but the law has been amended. You may now homeschool with just a high school diploma. And no, that doesn't mean a piece of paper. That simply means you may homeschool if you have finished high school.
If you have always used Option 4 in which you attach a copy of your "program of study for the coming year," or a statement of why you feel you're "able to provide an adequate education for your child," you no longer have to do that. Just choose Option 1, and you'll save hours of wasted time!
To get an updated, printable copy of the Notice, you may go to HEAV website.
It's almost time for back-to-school! Are you ready?
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